Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle will all years of ATX fit in a 96 GL?

I got a bargain priced fixer-upper '96 GL with the Zetec. I've done a lot of the fixing-upping, but one issue that isn't fixed-upped is the tranny. It works, but it keeps having symptoms -- thudding on upshifts when hot, for instance. I had someone overhaul the valve body and it didn't cure the problem, so I figure I need to replace it. The car seems to have been used fairly hard and is only worth maybe $1500 even with this problem cured, so buying a new automatic transmission from Ford would be ridiculous -- that much money would be better spent on a newer car. So, I'm thinking of getting a salvaged transmission.

(Ford Parts Online seems to have a replacement tranny for thirty-five dollars, but I'm guessing there's something wrong with their catalog.)

My question is, will an automatic transmission from newer years of Contour fit this car? Or am I restricted to '96 and maybe '97? Could I use something from a Focus or Escape? When shopping for salvage, the range flexibility can make a big difference in whether anything good is available...

i know a 2001 cougar atx will work in a 97 contour, been there done that, but im not sure what will work with a 96

Thanks. From what the parts places say it sounds like everything will work with everything... but I know that they changed the shift lever connection at some point. Maybe that was from 95->96? Hopefully my Chilton book will say.

I believe you can use a transaxle from any Contour family vehicle up to 1999.
But there are requirements...

The most important one is that the engines have to match...

If it comes from a Zetec, it will only work with a Zetec.
Same goes for a Duratec.

You can cross them from one engine to another but it requires a lot of rebuilding
and replacing parts and clutches to make one transaxle do the job of another.

I just called a bunch of junkyards and they're all telling me that you can ONLY use a '96, with all the other years the electronics are wrong and use different connector plugs.

I did find one guy who has one, which is available only because another customer backed out, and he wants $700. The quote I got for installation at another place is $800. He's offering a 90 day warranty. I'm trying to decide if this used-up sack of waste matter I'm driving is worth sinking that much money into.

How hard is it to swap a tranny yourself? I pulled an engine once and it took forever, but mostly due to all the little stuff you have to clear out of the way. Maybe the tranny is simpler.